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Business Law - Finance 301: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Litigation When Your Client’s Cannabis Business Investment Goes Up In Smoke
The legal cannabis industry is expanding rapidly worldwide. In North America alone, the industry is expected to grow to $50 billion by the end of the decade. But where there is smoke, there is fire. Class action lawsuits against cannabis companies are on the rise, driven by this industry growth, regulatory concerns, and stock price volatility, and publicly traded companies are not alone. Private companies face unhappy or disillusioned investors as well, who often did not understand for what they signed up when joining the “Green Rush.” This panel of seasoned litigators will discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of cannabis finance and investment litigation.
Jeffrey Barr, Armstrong Teasdale LLP
Jeffrey F. Barr is a partner in the firm’s Corporate Services practice group with more than 20 years of eclectic legal experience. While Jeff focuses his practice on counseling clients in the marijuana and hemp industries with respect to business transactions, commercial litigation, real estate, crisis management, and government relations, he also has experience with municipal law and has handled civil rights matters for his clients. Jeff has litigated corporate disputes, contract issues, and comprehensive regulatory controversies in the Nevada cannabis industry. He has counseled marijuana clients in connection with choosing proposed facility sites; helped clients understand and secure zoning and land use approvals; negotiated and drafted cannabis asset/equity purchase contracts, management agreements, employment agreements, commercial financing contracts, licensing agreements, and leases; and managed government affairs on behalf of marijuana clients. Jeff also handles appeals before the Supreme Court of Nevada and the Ninth Circuit for clients in all industries.
Robert Becher, Partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
Jennifer Cabrera, Partner, A.Y. Strauss, LLC
Jennifer Cabrera is a partner at A.Y. Strauss and leads the firm’s Cannabis Group. With a background in litigation and a reputation as a persistent problem solver, Jennifer is known for her highly organized, responsive, and client-centered approach. She works tirelessly to help clients navigate the complex legal landscape of cannabis law with efficiency and precision.
Jennifer advises cannabis businesses throughout New Jersey and New York, providing strategic guidance on regulatory compliance, state and local licensing, and fundraising. She works with companies of all sizes, from startups to multi-state operators, and often serves as outside general counsel. Through her leadership, clients benefit from full-service legal support in collaboration with A.Y. Strauss’s broader capabilities.
Before joining the firm, Jennifer led the New Jersey branch at one of the nation’s top-ranked cannabis law firms for six years, where she supported the development and growth of businesses throughout the state. Earlier in her career, she managed her own boutique law firm focused on commercial litigation and arbitration. Jennifer began her legal career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she represented clients in complex commercial disputes.
Jennifer is deeply involved in leadership, education, and community initiatives. She serves on the board of the National Hispanic Cannabis Council and previously held a position on the Board of Trustees of the Harvard Club of New York City. In addition to her legal practice, she has served as an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law and St. John’s University School of Law, and as a visiting lecturer at Duke University School of Law. Jennifer is also a frequent speaker at cannabis industry conferences, where she lends her expertise to shape conversations around law, business strategy, and equity in the evolving cannabis landscape. Her accomplishments have been recognized by Best Lawyers in Cannabis Law (2023–2025) and New York Super Lawyers in 2022.
Jeffrey Matura, Founding Shareholder, Barrett Matura
Katy Young, Managing Partner, Ad Astra Law Group, P.C.
Katy M. Young, Esq. MANAGING PARTNER, Ad Astra Law Group, LLP in San Francisco, CA
Katy represents both plaintiffs and defendants in business disputes, real estate claims and intellectual
property litigation, with a unique focus on matters for cannabis industry litigants. Katy is one of the most
experienced cannabis-focused civil litigators in the country and has been recognized by the Daily Journal
for her work. She is passionate about the industry and enjoys the challenges inherent in litigating cases
on the cutting edge, thereby shaping policy. Katy is graduate of University of San Francisco School of Law
and University of the Pacific where she was a scholarship athlete. She has been named a Northern
California Super Lawyer in 2022 and a Rising Star from 2014 through 2022. In 2018-2022, she was named
to Benchmark Litigation’s Top 40 Under 40 Hot List. She also served as the President of the InterNational
Cannabis Bar Association for four years, and was recently nominated to join the Edward J McFetridge Inn
of Court executive committee. Katy is active in other networking organizations including the ProVisors
Cannabis Affinity Group, the Bar Association of San Francisco Cannabis section, and the California
Lawyers Association Cannabis Working Group.
